N O R T H W E S T N A Z A R E N E U N I V E R S I T Y G REAT MINDS • GREAT HEARTS • GREAT FUTURES VOL. 91, Th e NUM. 3, MMESSENGERESSENGER FALL 2004 NNU’sNNU’s JOHNSON JOHNSON SPORTSSPORTS CENTERCENTER bringsbrings newnew possibilitiespossibilities toto athletesathletes andand studentsstudents president’s letter contents Dear Alumni and Friends: Every once in awhile we just need to take time to celebrate! And, on Friday evening features President: Oct. 1 we did just that. Some 700 alumni and Dr. Richard A. Hagood friends of Northwest Nazarene University Gracious Giving Vice President for Enrollment Services 4 gathered for the annual President’s Dinner to Responsible for much of NNU’s recent growth on & Marketing: Dr. Eric Forseth celebrate another good year of financial and campus, Harmon and Elizabeth Johnson talk about their volunteer support for our university and to Vice President for University Advancement: philosophy of giving and how they have responded to Gary Skaggs celebrate God’s blessing. What an evening! NNU’s recent calls to give. What a venue—the Johnson Sports Center! Director, Alumni Relations: This annual dinner allows students, the campus Darl Bruner 10 Campus Spotlight: community, and me to express our appreciation to Director, Marketing & Public Relations / “Lights, Cameras, Action!” donors, who during the past year contributed a Managing Editor: NNU Television and Film Professor Arnie Ytreeide challenges minimum of $250 to NNU, and benefactors who, over Angela Swanson his students with professionalism and purpose. a longer period, have established endowed Designer: scholarships or funds exceeding $10,000. Larson Creatives, Inc. Benefactor is a good word, isn’t it? A benefactor 11 Student Spotlight: is a person or group that gives financial aid to The Messenger is published quarterly by the Office of “I Will Never Leave You or Forsake You” ensure the benefit, the well-being of another, Enrollment Services & Marketing at Northwest Senior Kendall Yoder shares her story of her fight against Nazarene University and sent to alumni and friends of in this case Northwest Nazarene University. Northwest Nazarene University. Postmaster send address cancer and how God spoke in her moment of greatest pain. We had another special reason to celebrate at the President’s Dinner. We changes to The Messenger, c/o Northwest Nazarene dedicated the 50,000 square-foot addition to our athletic facilities—the Johnson University, 623 Holly Street, Nampa, ID 83686-5897. 12 Alumni Spotlight Sports Center—to the mission and purposes of NNU. The spacious and Northwest Nazarene University is a Christian compre- “Finding God on the Barge” hensive university offering more than 45 undergraduate magnificent fieldhouse was transformed into a banquet hall, and our guests As a child growing up in Bangladesh, alumna Tahmina majors and master’s programs in six disciplines. In all of were treated to a ceremony that also celebrated the generosity of Harmon its programs, the university is dedicated to student Martelley knew of God, but it wasn’t until she met and Elizabeth Johnson. growth in Christ-like character, academic excellence, missionaries from Idaho that she learned His name. The Johnsons shy away from publicity, but we have prevailed upon them creative engagement and social responsiveness. In addi- tion to its 85-acre campus in Nampa, Idaho, and the to let The Messenger tell our alumni and friends about this most remarkable MBA and STEP programs offered in Boise, Idaho, the couple and their most inspiring story. Harmon and Liz, neither of whom is an university also has cooperative programs in 10 countries. alumnus, have adopted NNU as their own and have demonstrated extraordinary Founded in 1913, the university serves approximately 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students, and affection for the university and its students. You will enjoy learning more about approximately 6,000 continuing education students. this beneficent relationship in this edition of The Messenger. I invite you to join departments with me in celebration! Contact us: Northwest Nazarene University 2 President’s Letter Sincerely, 623 Holly Street Nampa, ID 83686-5897 Highlights www.nnu.edu 7 Office of Alumni Relations: 800-654-2411 / 467-8841 8 On Campus Office of Enrollment Services & Marketing: Richard A. Hagood 467-8994 13 Alumni News President Office of Admissions: 877-NNU-4-YOU / 467-8000 University Advancement Office of University Advancement: 15 800-654-2411 / 467-8772 Center for Professional Development: 800-349-6938 / 467-8495 Cover: Larson Creatives, Inc. / Steve Paul Photography 2 TheMESSENGER TheMESSENGER 3 Gracious Giving— How One Couple is Transforming the Campus of NNU NNU coaches gather with Harmon and Elizabeth Johnson in the new Johnson Sports Center. Pictured from left to right are (standing) BY ANGELA SWANSON, PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE PAUL Jamie Lindvall (women’s soccer), John Spatz (track and cross country), Mike Terpstra (men’s basketball), Tim Onofrei (baseball); (seated) Deb Bradburn (volleyball), Julie Coert (softball), Athletic Director Rich Sanders, Elizabeth Johnson, Harmon Johnson, Kelly Lindley (women’s basketball) and Associate Athletic Director Darlene Brasch. As graduates of California State colleges playing at the professional level with the and Azusa Pacific University, Harmon and San Francisco Giants organization. He is Liz Johnson seem unlikely candidates to noticeably humble about his experiences. be benefactors of Northwest Nazarene He mentions his blessings often and his University, but less than five minutes into accomplishments only when I ask him. our conversation, I realize that the Even then, he is hesitant. Johnsons understand what it means to Through teaching, Harmon met his be led by God, especially in the way wife, Elizabeth, and together they taught they give of themselves. in Fresno and Orange County before Born in Batesville, Arkansas, and raised relocating to Nampa in 1979. Once in the in Central California, Harmon developed Treasure Valley, Liz completed a 25-year a love of sports early on, when he started career as a teacher, then joined Harmon in playing baseball in junior high.“We enjoy his business, Cherry Lane Construction, what we do well,”he says, smiling.“I was one of the largest developers of single- a good athlete.” family residences in the state of Idaho. That love of baseball stretched into It was through membership at Nampa 20 years of coaching and also included First Church of the Nazarene that Harmon and Liz say they became acquainted 4 TheMESSENGER TheMESSENGER 5 HIGHLIGHTSHighlights with NNU and started to learn of the needs of the The core of their generosity is a deep desire to help students and see university, particularly the need for new buildings on them succeed. “It’s important for us to see champions for Christ,” Liz campus. In 1997, Harmon managed the building contract tells me. “We’re interested in helping bring about those champions.” through Cherry Lane Construction for the Lucile Little What they receive in return isn’t monetary, but Liz gets to the Prayer Chapel, a cornerstone of the NNU campus. In a heart of the matter as she talks about how rewarding it has been for turn of generosity, the Johnsons began their legacy of them to give. “God has blessed us in honoring him,” Liz says, smiling. buildings at NNU. “Upon completion of the project, “I really think that the more you give, the more you get. It’s a instead of presenting NNU with a bill, Harmon and Liz tremendous blessing to us that we’re able to help.” graciously donated the entire cost of the project,” said I listen as Harmon wonders aloud the percentage of alumni who Gary Skaggs, vice president for university advancement. In addition to the prayer chapel, Harmon and Liz gave the lead gift for the new Johnson Sports Center gymnasium expansion project, a gift that totaled $2.5 million and In October, hundreds gathered at the Harold and Phyllis Thomas. Harmon encouraged others to give through matching donations. annual President’s Dinner to thank and Elizabeth Johnson (center) (See more on the Johnson Sports Center at right.) As I donors for their generosity to were especially honored for their Northwest Nazarene University. Dr. numerous contributions to NNU talk with the Johnsons, I sense their desire for others to Hagood is shown above (pictured the last several years. see that it is only in giving that we truly receive. I listen left to right) with Tracey Dillabaugh, to them speak passionately about how they wish they Roland and Bobby Halle, David could inspire others to give, as well, and that passion is Ferdinand and Carolyn Peterson, and confirmed when I talk to Gary Skaggs about the love that Harmon and Liz have for NNU. “Their greatest fulfillment and satisfaction come from believing that their gifts are answers to someone’s prayer for NNU,” Gary says, referring not only to the sizeable unrestricted year-end gifts donated, but also to the scholarships they fund to help students pay for the cost ABOUT THE JOHNSON SPORTS CENTER Fulfilling the Promise of a private Christian college education. “They live by the principle that what they have is God’s money; they are • New 55,000 square-foot addition and remodel of the NNU gymnasium. NNU looks to 100 just the bankers.” • Three basketball courts that can be converted into tennis, How does someone find his or her path to giving, I volleyball, pickle-ball and badminton courts or baseball and wonder. “I don’t have a pat formula,” Harmon says when softball diamonds. • Indoor three-lane track for practice and student use I ask him what has led to the success that has allowed throughout the year. him to donate more than three million dollars to the • Houses a new fitness center with 3,500 square feet university.